Copy editing goes that little bit deeper than proofreading. It catches not only those grammatical, spelling and punctuation mistakes and awkward sentences that can slip into your manuscript while you concentrate on the bigger picture, but also picks up any ambiguous points, repeated text or inconsistencies.
Publishers have hundreds of manuscripts to consider every week, and sometimes a badly edited manuscript could flip the decision on who they will take on.
Copy editing is even more important if you wish to self-publish. Nothing irritates a reader more than sloppy editing, and to succeed you need to have the same standards as the top publishers.
Let The Oxford Editors be that extra pair of eyes and go through your manuscript line by line to correct grammar, remove repetitions and track down those spelling mistakes and stray commas.
Although we make every effort to catch all mistakes during copy editing, most books will need a final proofread to catch any typos and those little bits that inevitably slip the net. Most publishers will correct proofs several times, and we would advise that you have the final version of your manuscript proofread before publishing.
Kill your darlings, kill your darlings, even when it breaks your egocentric little scribbler’s heart, kill your darlings.
― On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft
Proofreading
All writers know that feeling when they have crawled over their work so much that all the words appear to merge into one. You have read the same paragraph so many times you can’t make out if you are repeating yourself or just re-reading the same passage. Then someone looks over your shoulder and their eyes go straight to the little mistakes.
Let us be that extra pair of eyes and go through your manuscript line by line to correct those typos and stray commas that have slipped past the copy edit.
Although we make every effort to catch all mistakes during copy editing, most books will need a final proofread to catch any typos and those little bits that inevitably slip the net. Most publishers will correct proofs several times, and we would advise that you have the final version of your manuscript proofread before publishing.
When you present your work to an agent or publisher it is essential to make the best possible impression and you don’t want them distracted by bad spelling or grammar. They need to know that you are serious and professional if they are going to invest in you.
Copy editing Fees:
Every manuscript is different and some need more work than others, so we would need to talk to you or see your work before giving a quote. We are always happy to answer any questions.
For a rough guide of fees for a manuscript that needs very simple copy-editing work please see our fees page.
If you need extensive fact-checking and re-writing please talk to us first.
We are always happy to talk with authors, so please contact us if you are not sure whether your book, article or manuscript needs editing or if you have any questions about the service.
Developmental editing
A developmental edit is more detailed than copy editing and provides a comprehensive, in-depth edit of your manuscript. It looks at all the elements of your writing, from single words and phrasing, to overall structure and style. It can address plot holes or gaps, help with characterisation and generally help get your manuscript to where it should be. This may mean that your manuscript changes quite substantially. We will also look at your target audience and will judge your work in relation to professional industry standards. Once your manuscript has been cut, reshaped, revised, and developed it will be ready to be copy edited and then proofread.
Some of our many great copy editors:
Brenda Stones
Brenda Stones has worked in publishing for more than 30 years – starting as a graduate trainee at Cambridge University Press and finishing as publishing director at Oxford University Press, with stints at Macmillan, Longman, Letts, Hodder and Walker Books along the way. She has particular expertise in education, publishing for every subject area and every age-group, from pre-school to further education. She has been the author of educational series for WHSmith, HarperCollins, Badger Publishing and Franklin Watts.
Brenda lectures for the Publishing Training Centre, Oxford Brookes, and the MA in Publishing Studies at City University. She runs her own small poetry press, called Pisces Press, and organises the literary events programme for her local library. Brenda also has extensive contacts in every sector of publishing.
Ami Naramor
Ami is a professional book editor who has worked in the publishing industry for nearly 20 years. She is a proud Baylor University graduate (BA in English) who also holds an MA in English literature and creative writing from Claremont Graduate University.
Her publishing experience includes copy writing, copy editing and editorial project management. Her areas of special interest are history and historical fiction, biography, political science and English literature, and working with authors for whom English is not their first language.
Mary Hanneman Cochrane
Mary has worked as an editor and writer for news, public relations, literary fiction, and academic publications. She has been a news reporter and copy editor; a museum publications editor and worked for nearly 20 years at the flagship New York state university in public relations, communications and marketing.
In all these posts, she has been the go-to proofreader and copy editor for all texts. Her husband has published four novels through Nan Talese/Doubleday and Random House/Knopf; on his last novel, Mary found 26 new errors on the galleys, which had been proofed/edited by a Random House/Knopf team.
Our Fees and How to Submit:
Please click here to go to our fees page.
Please note, we do not accept encrypted manuscripts.
Discounts:
We offer discounts when more than one service is taken up and paid for at the same time at the start of the work.
Please see our Terms and Conditions.
The road to hell is paved with adverbs.
